The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-25
FARM TOPICS.
SAVE THE SMALL POTATOES.

thing suitable Tor planning VIII DC III
active demand 1t is better, to feed al
most anything this year than small po-
tatoes, which by some are preferred
for seed because they will plant farther
than large ones
TOMATOES RIPENING IN THE CELLAR
Always when frost comes 1t catches
the tomato plants with large quantities
of unripe fruit If the vines are pulled
iup while untouched by frost and thrown
: into the cellar, most of the fruit will
rlpen. In this way it is possible with
very little trouble to keep fresh toma-
toes from the Summers growth until
near Christmas. Late in the season
the tomato does not rot SO quickly as
IL does earlier.
BUYING BRAN CHEAPLY.
At this season bran is always cheaper
than Il is later in Winter when all feed
becomes scarce. The millers are gen.
orally crowded with wheat and as bran
Is bulky they are forced to SELL A lit
tie later as wheat stacks diminish they
will naturally hold bran for higher
price, and get it. If farmer has
good place to store bran he can always
save money by purchasing what he
wants in the Fall or early Winter.
SQUIRRELS AND FRUIT.
The common red squirrel is in some
places great pest to pear growers
The little rascal does not seem to Gale
for the fruit, but cuts it in two, eating
out the seeds and leaving the divided
halves to rot The squirrel. though
beautiful, is destructive, and should at
least be kept within bounds. One OF
his worst habits is in destroying the
nests and eggs of birds that are fully as
beautiful as himself, and far more val
I liable to man rs deslroycrs of noXious
insects.
BEDDING THE BARNARD.
Wherever straw is abundant good
deal should be spread over the barn
yard TO catch the droppings of animals
during winter. If straw is scarce some
other material should be used. Sods
with as thin n slice of earth and as
much grass as possible are even better
than straw, as they absorb the liquid
manure more perfectly. Though stock
should be stabbed at nights it should
have the run of the barnyard at least
on fine days for exercise, and the ma
nure itthen makes ought not to be lost.
FALL SOWING OF LETTUCE.
Sclf-sown lettuce from the seed scat
tered in the Fall when ripening is al
ways earlier than the earliest Spring
planting. Our climate is pretty cold to
allow growth in Winter, but lettuce is
hardy, and if ii barely sprouts the seed
will push into strong growth early in
The Spring. If covered with leaves the
bed will be better. Much self-sown
: lettuce is poor because it comes from
ICED on plants that run too much to
seed and too little to leaf. In any event
Fall-sown lettuce should not be used
for seed, as it is more apt 10 run out
than that kept growing vigorously all
the time.
SOFT CORN FOR COWS.
We have long thought that much OF
the soft corn almost wasted in fatten-
ing pork might be more profitably fed
to COWS. The well-fed pig rejects the
soft green cob, which in this stage has
good deal of nutriment. His diges-
ton, contrary to popular belief. is not
as good as that of the cow. Give the
fattening pig greater variety OF food,
and he will not only thrive better but
make more healthful, if not quite SO
fat, pork. The corn judiciously fed to
mich COWS will give far better returns,
keeping them from growing poor. as
COWS are apt to do at this season when
not given extra feed.
PROTECTING PEACH BUDS.
So many places are just on the line
where cold destroys their buds, that
some means of protection may often be
used with advantage. Wisps Of straw
bound around the branches, including
III course the twigs, are some help In
Eardlng of severe winds. But if the
severe cold continues these are mol
enough After the straw is put on,
spraying with water frow force pump
will cover the tree with coating Of
ice that will eflectually protect it. Pos
siblv sprayinp the trees two or three